Postpartum Hair Loss

Here's what causes a new mother to lose her hair (even when she's not pulling it out), and what she can do about postpartum hair loss.

If you have postpartum hair loss, or hair loss after pregnancy, you'll notice a sudden shedding (sometimes in clumps) in the six months after you give birth.

What causes postpartum hair loss?

The average person loses about 100 hairs a day, but not all at once, so you don't notice them. When you're expecting, however, your pregnancy hormones keep those hairs from falling out — leaving your hair looking as lush as a supermodel's, or so thick that you can barely get a brush through it. But all good things must come to an end, and that includes your awesome new 'do. When those hormones drop back to normal, the extra hairs drop, too.

What you need to know about postpartum hair loss

Don't freak: You're not going bald, you're just getting back to normal. If you're breastfeeding, some of your extra hair may hang on to your scalp until you wean or start to supplement with formula or solids. But nursing or not, take comfort in knowing that by the time your baby is ready to blow out the candles on that first birthday cake (and perhaps has plenty of hair of her own), your catch-up hair loss will be finished, and your locks should be back to the way they were before pregnancy too.

What can you do about postpartum hair loss?

If you're losing hair since giving birth, there are some things you can do about it:

Be extra gentle during your shedding season to prevent excess hair loss after pregnancy. Shampoo only when necessary (as if you have time to shampoo at all!), and use a good conditioner and a wide-toothed comb to minimize tangling. Use scrunchies or barrettes to put hair up, instead of rubber bands — and don't pull hair into tight ponytails.

Skip blow-dryers and curling and flat irons if you can, and put off any chemically based treatments (highlights, perms, straightening) until the shedding stops.

Talk to your practitioner if your hair loss is excessive. When it's accompanied by other symptoms, hair loss after pregnancy could be a sign of postpartum thyroiditis.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the First Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.